As discussed in Step 3: Prepare the Home, prior to showing a home to prospective buyers and real estate agents, “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) sellers should consider staging a home to make it more attractive to prospective buyers. When staged properly, a home will look bigger, brighter, and more inviting than an unstaged home. Although staging is more of an art form than a scientific method, Nestseller recommends the following inexpensive techniques to improve the interior of a home:

Add stylish throw-pillows to furniture (and/or swap pillows from other rooms) to add color, texture, and new patters to add vibrancy to a room.

Clean and organize all bookshelves, desks, cabinets, and surface areas, eliminating excess clutter to give a room a clean and fresh feel.

Vacuum and deep-clean rugs and carpets to make a room appear brighter and more inviting.

Swap chairs and seats from other rooms (e.g., put dining room chairs in living rooms or bed rooms or rocking chairs in a sun room) to give a room an updated look.

Organize books on shelves by genre or color, or stack books both horizontally and vertically, to add an eye-catching feature to a room.

Neaten up the exterior of refrigerator doors by removing or organizing notes, invitations, pictures, art, and magnets.

Clean and organize cocktail and side tables by polishing their surfaces, removing clutter, and adding one or two display items for a simple and fresh look.

Make all windows shine by cleaning both the interior and exterior to allow more natural light to enter the home.

Swap artwork from other areas of the home to see whether it can bring a fresh perspective to an otherwise uninviting room.